Burial vault and method of making same



Jan. 25, 1944.

M. ASKOLNIK BURIAL VAULT AND METHOD OF MAKING' SAME Filed July 30, 1942 l Z BY aan ATTORNEY'S 4 l Patented Jan. 2.5, 1944.

Max Skclnilr, Chicago, Ill. Application July 30,(1942, sei-iai No. 452,830

15 claims. (ci. gi-,si

' This invention relates to burial vaults and to a method of making thesame. Burial vaults have heretofore been made either of steel or concrete. Concrete vaults, even though\-rein forced,are objectionable because of their porosity and great weight. Steel vaults are now diicult" to obtain and are undesirable for the reason that they are subject to electrolysis and chem- ,4, ical deterioration.

It is an object of the .present invention to prmethod of making a vide lightweight burial vaults which are imperfx vious to moisture and not appreciatbly aiecte'd -by water, and which may be relatively inexpensively produced.

It is another object to that are relatively strong,

provide burial vaults lightweight, unaffected ,by water'and which are composed of a readily available plastic material.

' It is another object to provide a method of making burial vaults from plastic material comprising, magnesium oxychloride cement, which vaults are suitable for low cost mass production and which do not require the use of a large v number of molds.

It isafurther object to provide relatively'25 lightweight, low cost burial vaults consisting essentially of magnesium oxychloride cement, reinforced by brous material, which vaults have a desirable appearance and are. substantiallyy unaected by moisture.

Other objects will be apparent from the followingdetail description of the present invention, which is illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which: i f- .Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shapable composite sheethavinga plurality of plies of Efibrous material, each coated with an adherent layer of plastic, puttylike magnesium oxychloride cement;

Fig.'2 is a vperspective view of the composite 40 sheet shown in Fig. 1 and of a fornifffor forming .the central portion of a vau1t,'with the composite sheet bent about the form in accordance with the processl tion;. e

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a generally U- shaped reinforcing strip of angle-shaped cross section for'strengthening -the bond between the ends and the central member of the vaults emy,bodying vthe present invention;

Fig.' 4 is a perspective view of a completed vault embodying the present invention;

embodying the present inven- Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional viewf through a corner por.-

the cement composition tially beyond the stiff puttylike state. With the l the relatively sti puttylike state, the composite sheet may be readily tion of the vaults taken on 5; and

Fig. 7 'is an enlarged sectional view through -a portion of the wall of a burial vault embodying the present invention and showing the construction thereof.

Inmy copendingdapplication entitled, Casket the line 6-6 of Fig.'

and methodA of making same, l Serial No.

consistency. i9. plurality of Jsheets thus coated` are then preferably superimposed on each other and the magnesium oxychloride cement in the mass allowed to set up until it attains the puttylike state `where it can be `readily molded without adhering to the mold, members.

The fabric material used for the plies is preferably ofthe wovenv type and that used for the 0 inner plies 2 and 3 is preferably burlap. The

material used. for the outer ply 4 nearest the outer surface of thevault is preferably cfa relatively ner woven material, such for example as muslin, in order to permit the formation of a smoother, more ing..

In the preferred method of preparing the readily moldable .composite sheet material I, the superimposed plies having ythe magnesium exy- .chloride cement in substantially creamy consistency are incorporated in a heating zone having a relatively high humidity and an elevated temperature, e. g., one cof the orderof to `F., for a short period to accelerate the reaction between the constituents of\the .cement composition. The composite material' is removed' from' the heating zone .beforey setting of has progressed substana etallic outer surface coatcut and formed to any desired shape.

Theburial vaults embodying-the present ipvention are preferably of the air-sealing type with a b oxlike cover portion 6 and a cooperating,

'a mold Is.

and preferably has an arch-shaped form. The

bottom portion 'I,V upon which the edges of theV the arch-shaped central member and 'form a unitary boxlike structure. The upper peripheryof the end portions I0, including the side edges thereof, are preferably bonded to the entire adjacent edge portions of the central member with a layer ofhardened plastic material. VSuitable reinforcing means, such as a generally U-shaped reinforcing member II having an angular cross section-ispreferably applied over the inner surface of the ends Ill and of the central member in the region of their juncture.

J The reinforcing strips II may be of hardened magnesium oxychloride cement composition containing one or 'more layers of brous material, such as burlap, and may be formed from plastic sheet material, such as that shown in Fig. 1. One side edge I2 of the angular reinforcing strip II is adhered to the edge portions of the end Ill;`

the other side I3 of the angular reinforcing strip Il is adherently attached to the edges of the central memberthrough a suitable layer S- ofv hardenedmement Y 'In the preparation of the cover portion of the 30 d burial vaults'of the present invention, the composite sheet I of suitable dimensions is bent over The mold I5 may be made ofwood wood and sheet material,` which of a plastic puttylike consistency, may be incorporated in a zone having sufcient temperature to accelerate lthe reaction between the constituents of the cement and to cause hardening ina relatively short time, such as less than five or six hours and preferably less than I. A temperature of about 125 F. is sumcient to cause hardening an hour or so and a relatively high humidity 1s preferred. f

Since the magnesium oxychloride cement is of puttylike consistency. in the sheets .I, the en d portions I maybe readily cut, from such a relatively plastic sheet I.

- The end portions I Il may -be hardenedsepa- Y. rately or preferably may be fastened to the central member 8 prior to the hardening thereof. After hardening of the members 9 and I0, the outer surfaces of the angular reinforcing member, I I, which as above set forth is preferably of 'magnesium oxychloride cement reinforced by fabric material, are coated with magnesium oxychlof ride cement paste and a member II is rmly pressed against each side edge portion of the central member 9 and against the corresponding end I0,

The bottom of the vault consists essentially of a relatively nat central portion 2II, which is preferably of rec g-ular shape to iit into the opening in the lower portion of the covert, a

peripheral onset portion having a depending.

portion 2I, and a. peripheral outwardly extending edge portion 22, upon which the peripheral edges of the cover portion 6 are adapted to rest. The depending portion 2l should'be sufciently high to provide an air seal so that compression of the gases within the chamber of the burial vault will prevent water from rising appreciably *above the portion 20. Conventional means (not shown) may be provided for locking the bottom to the cover 6.

a u-shaped transverse interior as well as the exterior of both'the coverand 'the bottom portionare ,preferably coated withan adherent layer I6 -of asphalt.

'Ihe outer surfaceof the vault may have an ad. herent decorative and 'waterproong coating I1.

TheA bottom- 20 may be readily formed by de'- forming one of-"the sheetsI of suitabledimensions against a.A mold of the desired vform and allowing the shaped material -to set -in contact 1'0 with themold, preferably at elevated temperatures as above. described.v

The vaults produced as above described are' relatively lightweight, exceedingly strong, and

'A substantially unaffected by 'moisture or the elements. Since the vaults may be formed from a partially set magnesium cement composition and hardened at elevated temperatures, they 4are readily adapted for mass production and a large numbermay 'be prepared from a relatively small number vof molds'or forming members.

A Although burlapis the preferred fibrous materialused for preparing the composite sheet I, other'sheeted brous material such as felted or 'woven ilbers, including even tarred paper, may be usedifdesired.

Although several embodiments of the invention 'having been herein shown and described, it will be understood. that numerous modifications of the construction shown maybe resorted to rwith- /out departing from vthe spirit of this invention as efined in the appended claims.

What1 claimis:- v 1. In ajprocess o f preparing burial vaults from magnesium oxychloride' cement compositions, the

* steps which comprise forming a composite sheet ride cement composition of puttylike consistency,A

shaping said sheetto arch-'like form before the 40 hardening of .the cement has progressed beyond thestiif puttylike state to provide fa central member, preparing cooperating ends from a similar composite sheet material to cooperate withsaid centralmember, and adhering the ends to the edges-ofsaid cent al lmember'to obtain a cover member.

2. In a process of preparing burial vaults from magnesium oxychlorid'e cement compositions, the steps which comprise 'forming a composite sheet consisting of a plurality of plies of fibrous material, each ply coated with a magnesium oxychloride cement composition of puttylike consistency, shaping said sheet to arch-like form before the hardening of thecenient has progressed beyond the stiff puttylike state' to provide a central member, preparing cooperating ends from a similar composite sheet material to cooperatecwith 'said central member, adhering the endsto theedgel of said central member to obtain a cover member,

.60 forming an angular reinforcing strip from fabricx.

coated with .magnesiumoxychloride. cement .`of moldableconsistency, coating the peripheral adjacent edge portions of said ends and saidcentral member with'a layer of magnesium oxychloride cement, disposing said angular reinforcing strip over said coating against said edge portions, and

adherently bonding vsaid reinforcing layer .to said edge portions through a layer of magnesium oXY- chloride cement paste.

3. -In a process of preparing burial vaults, the

steps which comprise coating a fibrous sheet materialwith magnesium oxychloride cement paste to form coated sheets, superimposing a plurality.

f of said coated sheets with the coatings o f adjafr vrcent sheets in contact, permitting the magnesium oxychloride cement-thereof to partially set before said magnesium cement composition has set substantially beyond the stiff puttylike consistency to form a composite sheet, forming a composite sheet to generally arch-shape to form a central'- member, preparing suitable cooperating ends' from a similar composite sheet, disposing a plastic material between the peripheral edges of said ends and the edges of said central member, bonding said ends toisaid central member .to form a ing one such end member to said shaped com posite sheet at each side edge thereof, whereby,

a boxlike cover portion of a vault is produced.;

5. 'In a method of preparing burial vaults, the

@steps which comprise coating a plurality of sheets of relatively coarsely woven fabric with a magtion at the side edge portions thereof.; said centrai portion being composed essentially of a'composite-sheet of a plurality of .plies of fabric sheet central portion comprising a shaped composite sheet having a plurality of pliesl of fabric material, each ply' coated'with a layerof hardened magnesium oxychloride cement'composition, and

ture. e

8. A 4burial valut comprising a cover member having an archshaped central portion and cooper'ating end portions, attached-tosaid central pormaterial, each ply coated with a layer o f hardened magnesium oxychloride cement composition, the fabric of said outer ply being of relatively flner woven fabric compared to an inner f lnish may. be

ply', whereby a relatively smooth had on'4 said central portion. 9. In a` burial vault lhaving a cover and a coop'- -erating bottom portion, a bottom having A a cenl'trai portion adapted to fit vwithin the .opening ois'et portion with a depending outwardly extending edge which'is adapted'to- 'receive said cover member, said central portion in the cover member and'. having a. peripheral and said cooperating ends of said cover memb er being composedessentiallyxof a plurality of integrally united plies lof fabric. sheet material,V each 'ply coated ywith a hardened magnesium -nesium voxychloride cement paste, superimposing nesium cement layer of adjacent sheets in` cona plurality. of said coated sheets with the magtact to form Aa composite sheet, passing s aid composite sheet into anche of elevated temperature to accelerate the reaction between the constituents of said magnesium oxychloride cement paste, removing said composite sheet from I said zone before the consistency of the magne s ium oxychloride cement paste has increased substantially beyond the stiil.' puttylike state, forming'- said partially set composite sheet to the form desired for the central member 'of said vault, allow.-4

foffset portion with .a

ing the magnesium composition of sid shaped" composite sheet to harden, preparing suitable end members for cooperation with said Shaped com# posite sheet, and adherently fastening onevsuch end member to said shaped composite sheet at each side edge thereof, whereby a boxlike'cover portion of a vault is produced.

6. Ina method of preparing burial vaults having a waterproofed surface,the'steps which 'comprise coating a plurality of sheets jof-rela .tively1 coarsely woven fabric with a magnesium oxychloride cement paste, superimposirfg a plurality of said coated sheets with the magnesium cement layer of adjacent sheets in contact to form a com-A posite sheet, passing said composite -sheet into a zone of elevated temperature to accelerate the' reaction between the constituents of said magnesium oxychloride cement paste, removing said composite sheet from said zone before the consistency of the magnesium oxychloride cement paste has increased substantially beyond the stiff- -puttylike state, forming- `said composite sheet tot substantially U-shaped "form, disposing said' shaped composite sheet in a heated'zone to further accelerate the hardening of the cement comoxychloride` cement composition. 10. In 'a burial v'ault having a cover and a cooperating bottom "-portion,-.' a, bottom havingy a central 'portion adapted to t within-the opening in the cover member and having a peripheral depending portion 4'and an outwardly extending- 'edge which isadap'ted-to receive said cover member, said central portion and said cooperating' ends of said cover member" being composed essentially of a plurality of in-A tegrally united plies of -fabric --sheet material,

each ply coated with a hardened. magnesium,

ox`ychloride cement composition, the p1y' adja cent the outer. .surface of said'centralp'ortion :and sa'id'ends being of nner woven fabric than that of other plies.

l1.-A burial vault tion at the side edge' portionsthereof, and a reinforcing .strip of'angular cross section disposed over-the inner ledge portions ofv each end and edge of said central portion and-adhered thereto .through a layer of hardened plastic'v nia-f.

teriai, said central portion Ibeing composed essentially of a composite sheet of a plurality of plies e of fabric sheet material, 'each' ply coated with .a layer of hardened magnesium position to form a hardened arch-shaped central member, and attaching a suitable cooperating end to each of theside edge portions of said central member to produce a borlike` structure.

7. A burial vault comprising a cover member having an arch-shaped central'fportion and coop-y eratingend portions attached to said central woven fabric material.

13. In agburial-vvault having a coverfand -a cooperating bottom portion, a bottom having a oxychloride -ce'- ment composition, the fabric of 'said outer ply being of relatively ner Wovenfabric compared .I an yinner ply, whereby a. relatively smooth ilnish.

may be had on said central portion.

- 12. In a bur-iai vault having a coverf and a cooperating bottom portion, a bottomv having a central portion adapted to fit within the opening in the cover member and having a periph-v eral o iset portion vwith a depending portion and an outwardly extending edge which is adapt I ed to receivesaid cover member, said cover member and said. bottom member being composed of magnesium oxvchloride cement composition reinforced with a plurality of plies of sheeted portion at the side edge portions thereof, said united to adjacent plies forming a unitary strucportion and an comprising a cover .meml ber having an archfshaped central portion,

'coop- -erating end portions-attached to said central porset portion with a depending portion and an outwardly extending edge which is adapted to receive said cover member, said central portion and said cooperating ends of said cover member being composed essentially of a plurality of integrally united plies of fabric sheet material, each ply coated with a hardened magnesium oxychloride cement composition.

i4. In a method of preparing burial vaults, the steps which comprise coating a plurality of sheets of relatively coarsely woven fabric with a magnesiurn oxychloride cement paste, superimposing a plurality of said coated sheets with the magnesium cement layer of adjacent sheets in contact to form a composite sheet, passing said composite s eet into a suitable zone to permit the reaction between the constituents of -said magnesium oxychloride cement paste, removing said composite sheet from said zone before the consistency of the magnesium oxychloride cethe stii puttylike state, forming-said composite zo Vault;

sheet to the shape desired for preparing a portion of a boxlike container, and disposing said shaped composite sheet in a heated `zone to tur-l ther accelerate the hardening Ioi! the cement composition. 15. A plurality of plies of fabric sheet material adhered together through interposed layers of hardened magnesium oxychloride' cement com'- position, said magnesium cement composition penetrating around and between fibers ofV said sheet material as when the cement composition is applied in contact with said fibrous sheet material after said fibrous sheet material has been moistened and while said cement composition' is in the plastic state, said plies being united together in a. unitary structure, being archshaped in form and forming a portion of a burial .Max SKOLNIK. 

